What
Project Title: Water Supply Emergency Response to flood and conflict-affected people in conflict-prone Dasenech and Nyangatom Woredas, South Omo Zone
The IRC-15 project was launched in early 2015 to provide emergency access to clean water for 24,000 people living in the Dasenech and Nyangatom woredas1 by refurbishing damaged water schemes, training beneficiaries to maintain their water schemes, and promoting the adoption of healthy hygiene and sanitation by the communities.
Who
The Dasenech and the Nyangatom woredas, with populations of 62,572 and 21,426 respectively, straddle the hotly contested, and often flooding, South Omo River in extreme southwest Ethiopia bordering Kenya.
Why
In November 2014 the Omo River flooded for the second time in two months, causing significant damage to existing water points and destroying harvests. UNICEF reported that 56,000 people in Dasenech and 5,870 people living in Nyangatom were affected. In the past the the people could cope with the expected flooding of the Omo River in September and October. But deforestation in the highland areas is now contributing to more severe and frequent flooding. These repeated November floods damaged water supplies and forced too many people and livestock to converge on too few water resources.
How
The project objects are to refurbish 18 water schemes and establishor revitalize water and sanitation committees in each of the 17 communities, empowering total of 120 people to perform preventative maintenance and repair of their wells. Using our community learning process we teach and encourage healthy hygiene and sanitation behavior to community members.
Impact
GTLI responded to this emergency as a partner of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) by providing access to safe water for 24,296 people and empowering them to self-monitor and self-manage their water points. There are now 92 leaders in these communities, including 42 women, who have been trained to be Community Health Promoters, ensuring that the community has the knowledge to maintain their clean water points in the future. In addition, 1,087 adults, including 552 women, are demonstrating healthy hygiene and sanitation behavior to the people in their communities.
Metrics
| Before | After | |
| # of people with local access to clean water | 0 | 24,296 |
| # of functioning wells and roof catchment systems | 0 | 18 |
